The Opening Drive: Auburn at Baylor – Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – Friday’s season opener at Baylor can’t arrive quickly sufficient for Auburn senior Damari Alston, slated to begin at working again after three seasons as a backup.

“This is what I dreamed of,” Alston stated. “Being ready for this moment, a prime-time game for the first game. I’m so excited for that and excited to put on a show with my brothers.”

Beginning his third season on the Plains, head coach Hugh Freeze shares Alston’s anticipation. 

“It’s finally here,” Freeze stated Monday on the outset of his sport week press convention. “Our kids are excited, and our fans are. Hopefully we can play mistake-free and clean in game one to give us the best chance to win against a very talented team.”

Even when you’ve a whole preseason to arrange, generally much less is extra.

“You can’t get everything repped in practice, and you better rep the things you think you’re going to need to win the game over and over again against the different looks and give your quarterback all of those looks.”

Returning beginning quarterback Sawyer Robertson, thousand-yard rusher Bryson Washington, Baylor began clicking final season when the Bears settled on a beginning offensive line, averaging 40.8 factors per sport in October and November. 

“They’re coming in very confident in who they are and returning staff and returning a lot of key players,” Freeze stated. “It’s a great task to open the year out there, and we’re looking forward to it, expectant of big things. I like our team, I like where we’re headed, and this will be a great test for us.”

For the Tigers, Jackson Arnold debuts as Auburn’s beginning quarterback, returning to the Lone Star State the place he grew to become the nationwide participant of the yr at Guyer High School, two hours north of Waco, Texas.

“I played all four of my high school years in Texas, so I understand what Friday Night Lights mean out there,” Arnold stated. “I like these challenges week one. It sets the tone for our team and for our season. I’m super grateful for this opportunity.”

“I am full of excitement of this team,” Freeze stated. “I’ve been around enough to know when you have enough talent to win games, and we do, and we’re not going to run from that. We’re excited about it, and now we have got to go prove that.”

Throughout preseason camp, Freeze shared movies from former gamers, main as much as his theme the season opener: Run your race.

“There’s a cloud of witnesses that are cheering you on, that are for you, that believe in you and believe you can right the ship and bring glory back to Auburn football, but it’s very important that you understand your race,” Freeze stated. 

The 133rd season of Auburn soccer begins Friday at 7 p.m. CT at McLane Stadium on Fox with Jason Benetti, Robert Griffin II and Alexa Landestoy on the printed.  On the Auburn Sports Network, Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown will crew up for play-by-play, evaluation and sideline reporting.